2019 年 55 巻 6 号 p. 236-246
Ultra-weak light is always emitted when substances undergo chemical reactions such as oxidation – calledchemiluminescence( CL). CL measurement enables us to evaluate and estimate oxidation, deterioration, antioxidantefficacy or the degree of aging of samples at their very early stage. The CL measurement is a valuableinvestigative tool applied widely in medical, pharmaceutical, food, biochemical and chemical research. Thedetector for ultra-weak luminescence detects down to 50 photons/ cm2 sec( about 1/10000 of a firefly) or 10-15 Watts. Most materials are increasingly being stabilized against oxidation. Continued development of highersensitive detection along with the advancement of technology is an important priority.CL assay also enables researchers to capture the weak luminescence resulting from physical impact such asfriction, scraping, or when samples are fracture, and to monitor cavitation, resin and CFRP curing.The detection of very weak light with high sensitivity enables us to capture new information and knowledge.In this Review article, we introduce the basic CL mechanism, the latest data and outline the benefits ofapplying CL analysis as an investigation tool.Key words : Chemiluminescence, Oxidation,